Edible Fruits and Berries

Native fruits and berries are an important food source for wildlife.

Among the key components of any healthy, natural habitat are the native plants that provide sustenance for wildlife.  In central Texas, there are several species that provide abundant fruits and berries during the warmer months, and many are edible for humans as well as wildlife.

Common in brushy areas, open woodlands, and stony hillsides, the Texas Persimmon (Diospyros texana) is a small tree (8-12 feet) that is moderately deer resistant.  Flowering in March/April, this tree has little green leaves and attractive smooth pale reddish-gray bark that peels off to reveal a whiter trunk.  The female trees bear 1-inch fruits that turn from green to black as they ripen in late July to September.  Texas or Littleleaf Mulberry (Morus microphylla), also a large shrub or small tree, produces an edible fruit that is small, fleshy, and berry-like.  It varies from red to black and typically ripens in May, although in ideal conditions this tree is known to produce a large quantity of fruits over a longer period of time, providing much needed food for migrating and nesting birds.

Texas Persimmon Fruit

Texas or Littleleaf Mulberry Fruit

Our native Escarpment Black Cherry (Prunus serotina var. eximia) is a fast-growing, straight-trunked tree with long clusters of white flowers in April/May, followed by small purple-black cherries ripening in late July through October. Although impractical for fresh eating, the cherries are used in juices and wines, and the bark was once used in making cough syrup.  This deciduous tree is also unique in that it offers stunning yellow fall color.  Another attractive tree is the Mexican Plum (Prunus mexicana), whose dense white flowers appear before the leaves in early spring, and offer a very sweet, heady scent attractive to pollinators. The plums, which ripen from July to September, are nearly as ornamental as the flowers, as their color varies widely from gold to crimson to purple-black.

Escarpment Black Cherries

Mexican Plum

Agarita (Berberis trifoliata), a common native barberry, is a medium evergreen shrub whose gray-green holly-like leaflets are joined by yellow flowers in February/March and small red fruit in May through July.  The leaflets have sharp points at the ends, so care must be taken to harvest the fruit (if you can get them before the mockingbirds do), which makes an excellent jelly. Another sprawling shrub with thorny, woody stems is Southern Dewberry (Rubus riograndis) or Zarzamora.  A bramble common to sunny meadows and open fields, its white flowers bloom in March/April, followed by berries that resemble blackberries but have more of a sweet/tart flavor.  Usually found climbing along fencerows and high over other plants in woodland edges and stream sides is the Mustang Grape (Vitis mustangensis).  Best used for wines and jellies, these vines can grow up to 40 feet long, and produce small clusters of acidic berries that ripen in late July through September.    

Agarita Fruit

Mustang Grapes

Take a little time this fall planting season to seek out and add some of these native fruit and berry producing plants to your landscape.  Not only will you be providing food for several species of birds and mammals next summer, but you’ll have the chance to savor a natural and healthy treat for yourself, too. 

Preparing for a Winter Feast

 

Pine Siskin feeding on Thistle

Gardens can be a source of delight even during the winter months, if created with native plants for wildlife in mind. As the weather turns cold and foraging becomes more challenging, home gardens can be a critical resource for many different species.  Planting layers of vegetation, from ground covers to trees, provides the food and shelter necessary to sustain wildlife. 

Since different species utilize different types of food, it is important to consider the fructivores, nut eaters, granivores, and insectivores.   Native berry producing trees and shrubs that persist into winter are numerous and include yaupon, possumhaw, southern wax myrtle, American beautyberry, flameleaf sumac, roughleaf dogwood, Virginia creeper, Texas persimmon, and rusty blackhaw viburnum.  Trees such as the native Texas Red Oak, Live Oak, Post Oak, pecan, and Arizona walnut provide highly desirable nuts.  

Southern Wax Myrtle Berries

Rusty Blackhaw Viburnum Fruit

Post Oak Acorns

Another valuable practice is to create areas that mimic the forest floor by leaving leaves, which allows animals places to forage for overwintering insects.  Raking, mowing, and blowing is detrimental to many species of moths, butterflies, snails, spiders, beetles, and dozens of arthropods (such as millipedes).  Many moths and butterflies overwinter in the egg, caterpillar, or chrysalis/cocoon stage and use leaf litter as winter cover.  If you must keep your non-native lawn free of leaves, carefully rake them into a pile in the corner or spread them underneath trees and shrubs as a natural mulch.

Just as important is the practice of leaving seedheads and not cutting or pruning back perennials until they begin to break dormancy in late February or early March.  Birds can pluck seeds from spent flowerheads, hollow stems can become nests for solitary bees, and overripe fruits can be left to fall to the ground for animals to find.  Several native plant species that should be left standing throughout the winter include purple coneflower, blazing star, fall aster, common sunflower, tall goldenrod, western ironweed, frostweed, Texas thistle, Turk’s cap, blue mistflower, chile pequin, pigeonberry, and white boneset. 

Tall Goldenrod Seedhead

White Boneset Seedhead

Native grasses left to seed are also very beneficial, with clump-like vegetation at the base providing shelter from the cold and seedheads supplying food.  In early spring, the previous year’s leaf blades also provide necessary nesting material for many birds and small mammals.  The grass species to consider include inland sea oats, sideoats grama, switchgrass, big muhly, big bluestem, little bluestem, bushy bluestem, and indian grass.

Inland Sea-Oats Seeds

The colder months of the year are a good time to evaluate how well your garden provides a winter feast and haven for wildlife.  Helping our native animal species during the more barren months of the year by providing naturally occurring food and shelter helps to prepare them for a healthy and productive spring breeding season.